Aboard the United States’ 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George Washington which is now on a four-day port visit in Manila, is a “Filipino mafia.”

This, in light banter, is how Filipino sailors described their bond as part of the 5,000 crew of what is known as one of the world’s largest warships dubbed “City at Sea.”

Capt. David “Too Tall” Lausman, USS GW commanding officer, told a group of reporters given a tour of the ship as it docked at Manila Bay their visit also serves as a homecoming for its Filipino sailors, who comprise about 30 percent of the crewmembers.

The USS George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW 5) along with guided-missile destroyers, USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85), arrived before dawn last Saturday near Corregidor island where she was met by the Philippine Navy ship, BRP Leopoldo Regis (PG 847) and escorted her to the vicinity of the SM Mall of Asia (MoA).

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/275718/filipino-mafia-us-warship

The term mafia has many negative connotations.

Does the C.O. privately believe there are members of one ethnic group on his ship and the Navy that are involved in illegal activities?

Of course not.

But,consider this.

Why would the C.O. of a large Navy vessel make such a remark?

And before you think I am naive,my wife of 22 years was a Filipina.

I am more than well aware how this community does business in and out of the service.

Still I wouldn't expect a C.O. in the Navy today to use such words frivolously.

SailorDave

09-06-2010, 04:58 AM

Perhaps my reading isn't so good, but where in the article does the CO actually say that ? It says the Philipino Sailors call themselves that. I don't see any quote in the article that can be attributed to the Commanding Officer.

golfer55

09-06-2010, 02:12 PM

It does exist...you need to be a member to get a job as a commissary bagger! J/K

Thunderhorse19

09-06-2010, 04:31 PM

The sisterhood of lesbians and military spouses exists at StratCom and Offitt AFB. This mafia consists of military spouses working for the federal government and the Air Force as civilians and contractors. This female-led mafia thinks they own StratCom and Offutt. Many of the female mafia leaders are married to retired generals, colonels and Chiefs. They are involved in smear campaigns, harassment, bullying, vandalisms, drive by shootings, illegal stalking, gang stalking, favoritism, nepotism, corruption, fraud, waste and abuse. This shameful and appalling group has been there for 20 years and all commanders of StratCom and the 55th Wing are aware of them.

Shrike

09-06-2010, 08:24 PM

The sisterhood of lesbians and military spouses exists at StratCom and Offitt AFB. This mafia consists of military spouses working for the federal government and the Air Force as civilians and contractors. This female-led mafia thinks they own StratCom and Offutt. Many of the female mafia leaders are married to retired generals, colonels and Chiefs. They are involved in smear campaigns, harassment, bullying, vandalisms, drive by shootings, illegal stalking, gang stalking, favoritism, nepotism, corruption, fraud, waste and abuse. This shameful and appalling group has been there for 20 years and all commanders of StratCom and the 55th Wing are aware of them.
Dude, instead of going thread to thread slamming STRATCOM every chance you get, why don't you start your own thread? Call it "Top 100 things I hate about STRATCOM" and spend your days pouring your bile into it.

SailorDave

09-06-2010, 10:38 PM

It does exist...you need to be a member to get a job as a commissary bagger! J/K
Oh, it exists alright. They'll be the first to tell you that. But, no where in the article does the CO say it, which is the point of the OP.

imported_Seasons

09-07-2010, 02:55 PM

The sisterhood of lesbians and military spouses exists at StratCom and Offitt AFB. This mafia consists of military spouses working for the federal government and the Air Force as civilians and contractors. This female-led mafia thinks they own StratCom and Offutt. Many of the female mafia leaders are married to retired generals, colonels and Chiefs. They are involved in smear campaigns, harassment, bullying, vandalisms, drive by shootings, illegal stalking, gang stalking, favoritism, nepotism, corruption, fraud, waste and abuse. This shameful and appalling group has been there for 20 years and all commanders of StratCom and the 55th Wing are aware of them.

Suuuure they are. Got proof?

SENDBILLMONEY

09-07-2010, 03:21 PM

The sisterhood of lesbians and military spouses exists at StratCom and Offitt AFB. This mafia consists of military spouses working for the federal government and the Air Force as civilians and contractors. This female-led mafia thinks they own StratCom and Offutt. Many of the female mafia leaders are married to retired generals, colonels and Chiefs. They are involved in smear campaigns, harassment, bullying, vandalisms, drive by shootings, illegal stalking, gang stalking, favoritism, nepotism, corruption, fraud, waste and abuse. This shameful and appalling group has been there for 20 years and all commanders of StratCom and the 55th Wing are aware of them.

[CITATION NEEDED]

imported_Yggdrasil

09-08-2010, 04:54 AM

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/275718/filipino-mafia-us-warship

The term mafia has many negative connotations.

Does the C.O. privately believe there are members of one ethnic group on his ship and the Navy that are involved in illegal activities?

Of course not.

But,consider this.

The Philippines is notorious for its corruption at all levels.

Why would the C.O. of a large Navy vessel make such a remark?

And before you think I am naive,my wife of 22 years was a Filipina.

I am more than well aware how this community does business in and out of the service.

Still I wouldn't expect a C.O. in the Navy today to use such words frivolously.

Are you denying or confirming the existence of the Filipino Mafia?

Measure Man

09-08-2010, 03:54 PM

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/275718/filipino-mafia-us-warship

The term mafia has many negative connotations.

Does the C.O. privately believe there are members of one ethnic group on his ship and the Navy that are involved in illegal activities?

Of course not.

But,consider this.

The Philippines is notorious for its corruption at all levels.

Why would the C.O. of a large Navy vessel make such a remark?

And before you think I am naive,my wife of 22 years was a Filipina.

I am more than well aware how this community does business in and out of the service.

Still I wouldn't expect a C.O. in the Navy today to use such words frivolously.

Perhaps "mafia" isn't technically the right word, just a colorful way of describing their "network."

I'm not sure you could say they are involved necessarily in flat-out illegal activities...but definitely some hooking up "pare ko"

My ex- was filipina...and there was a definite network on base for things we needed to get done. Whether it was the best cuts of meat in the commissary that the filipino butcher had "in the back." Or the guy in the AMC terminal that could get us the space-A seat we needed...maybe releasing it at the last minute after the other space-A people already left the terminal. Or the guy at MPF that could walk our paperwork through the system. She could get a lot more done with her filipino network than I could with the SNCO network.

smarg

09-08-2010, 06:51 PM

Hmm....

Gotta love it!!! :D

TJMAC77SP

09-08-2010, 08:06 PM

Perhaps if the CO said it he meant it in the same way those in the Air Force use the terms "Fighter Mafia" or "Bomber Mafia".

navyskcs

09-13-2010, 09:38 PM

On a carrier you either have to belong to the "mafia", the good ol boys club, or the mason's. If you don't belong to any of those groups than you have no chance of being accepted or promoted.

smarg

09-14-2010, 01:11 AM

On a carrier you either have to belong to the "mafia", the good ol boys club, or the mason's. If you don't belong to any of those groups than you have no chance of being accepted or promoted.

Then what you are saying is that the Navy's enlisted promotion system is corrupt...or, non-team players are screwing themselves.

TJMAC77SP

09-14-2010, 12:36 PM

Then what you are saying is that the Navy's enlisted promotion system is corrupt...or, non-team players are screwing themselves.

Or......alternitively, the poster is projecting his own negative feelings about the Navy

smarg

09-14-2010, 12:52 PM

Or......alternitively, the poster is projecting his own negative feelings about the Navy

Bingo. I detect some bitterness.

ChiefB

09-15-2010, 12:04 AM

As Sailor Dave has noted, no where nor at any time did the CO or any Senior leader get quoted in saying the word "Mafia".

The Filipino - American crewmembers said this:

"With the big number of Filipino and Filipino-American sailors on board the giant warship, some of those interviewed laughingly said there is, in fact, what some of the crewmembers from other nations tagged as “Filipino mafia” not for anything else, but because of the strong brotherhood that exists among them.

Aviation Ordnance expert Gza Ione Larican, a petite lass from Isabela province, said Filipino sailors on board USS George Washington “stick together, that is why they call us “Filipino mafia.”"

Seems to me the OP subject is just another "red herring".

SailorDave

09-15-2010, 12:21 AM

Thanks for echoing my earlier statements. No one seemed to want to address that part.

ChiefB

09-15-2010, 12:27 AM

Thanks for echoing my earlier statements. No one seemed to want to address that part.

Got your six, Dave, edited my post.

TJMAC77SP

09-15-2010, 01:22 PM

Thanks for echoing my earlier statements. No one seemed to want to address that part.

Ahem...........

Perhaps if the CO said it he meant it in the same way those in the Air Force use the terms "Fighter Mafia" or "Bomber Mafia".

RobotChicken

06-06-2013, 06:31 AM

Glad to see some things never change! GO PI !!

Rainmaker

06-12-2013, 09:41 PM

Don't hear much about the PI anymore. is the MILF still very active there?

CYBERFX1024

06-12-2013, 10:55 PM

I certainly do believe there is a "Mafia" on that ship, but not in negative connotations. Just like in the Marine Corps there is LCpl Mafia. Pinoys tend to stick together and help each other out no matter where they are. I got lucky in Afghanistan since my wife is a Filipina and I can speak Tagalog pretty good, that I was a member of that mafia.

CYBERFX1024

06-12-2013, 11:04 PM

Don't hear much about the PI anymore. is the MILF still very active there?

Yes the MILF is still very much active right now. But they have got pretty much what they want from the government. Now they are working with them in the Muslim parts of Mindanao to help curb clan wars and also against the BILF. I am lucky my wife is from Compostela Valley and their are only NPA rebels there.

CYBERFX1024

06-12-2013, 11:06 PM

I certainly do believe there is a "Mafia" on that ship, but not in negative connotations. Just like in the Marine Corps there is LCpl Mafia. Pinoys tend to stick together and help each other out no matter where they are. I got lucky in Afghanistan since my wife is a Filipina and I can speak Tagalog pretty good, that I was a member of that mafia.

raustin0017

06-13-2013, 01:24 AM

Did anyone miss the fact the ship is docked in Manila? What a great city. Always had a good time in the PI.

RobotChicken

06-13-2013, 07:03 AM

:damnit-sign2:"There be a congressional investigation if it was a 'White Mafia' at large on a 'WARSHIP'!!"

CYBERFX1024

06-14-2013, 03:10 PM

Did anyone miss the fact the ship is docked in Manila? What a great city. Always had a good time in the PI.

A great city? The majority of Metro Manila is a sh*t hole to say the least. There are a few good parts but for the most part it sucks. Down by the US Embassy in the Ermita district, crime is so bad that the cops are joining in to. Corruption is so rampant that they can never get anything done in that city.

There is a reason why alot of people from the provinces don't want to live there. I would rather live in Davao any day of the week than Manila. Plus crime isn't bad down there at all. If you traffic or sell drugs, or do any bad crime. You better leave Davao, if not the police WILL kill you. It's a known fact that the police kill the pushers and traffickers, but no one cares because it keeps crime down.

Rusty Jones

06-14-2013, 03:47 PM

Then what you are saying is that the Navy's enlisted promotion system is corrupt...or, non-team players are screwing themselves.

I know that smarg is long gone, but I want to clarify this sarcastic post.

It's not like this anymore, but as recently as ten years ago; if you looked at the CPO/SCPO/MCPO selectee lists when they came out, and you specifically looked at the supply ratings (the ratings that the majority of Filipino Sailors served in), the majority of the selectees were Filipino. Even if you took out the more "doubtful" names - for example, Hispanic names which are common among Filipinos - some of those ratings were still at least 75% Filipino. I remember seeing the Senior Chief and Master Chief lists for the DK and SH ratings that were 100% Filipino, if you include the Hispanic names.

If you've got Filipino Master Chiefs sitting on all of those selection boards, this could be an explanation, I suppose.

It's not like this anymore, as there are far less Filipinos serving; at least the ones who were not American-born.

I served on the east coast, so I wasn't affected as much or at all by any "Filipino Mafia."